Russia’s embassy confirms tanker seized in Nigerian waters

February 04, 16:56UTC+3RABATEarlier, the maritime security director of Denmark-based Risk Intelligence told AP that the crew members from Russia, Georgia and the Philippines were probably held by an armed group for ransom

RABAT, February 4. /TASS/. Russia’s embassy in Nigeria confirmed on Thursday that the Greek-owned oil tanker Leon Dias has been hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea.

"The nationalities of the crew are currently being specified," the press attache of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, Artem Romanov, told TASS.

Earlier on Thursday, the maritime security director of Denmark-based Risk Intelligence, Dirk Steffen, told The Associated Press that the crew members from Russia, Georgia and the Philippines were probably held by an armed group for ransom.

Russia to make every effort to release sailors held hostage in Nigeria

Moscow will make every effort to release Russian sailors held hostage in Nigeria, Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.